Perforating machine



May 27, 1930. MCCULLOUGH ET AL 1,760,075

PERFORATTNG MACHINE Filed Jan 17, 1925 Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRA. J. MCCULLOUGH AND MILLARD SUMTER BLACK, F HUNTINGTON IABK,

CALIFORNIA PERFORATING MACHINE Application led January 17, 1925. Serial No. 3,042.

This invention has to do with a machine for perforating pipe, and it is an object of the invention to provide a machine for cutting perforations such as we disclose in our copendinl application entitled Perforated casing, led February 26, 1924, Serial No. 695,235.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and practical pipe perforating machine having a plurality of cutters so that it is operableto cut a plurality of perforations in a single operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a perforating machine of the character specified, which is adjustable to handle pipe of various sizes and to cut various arrangements of perforations. j

Another object of this invention is to provide a perforating machine, which is simple in construction, and simple and quick in operation.

The objects and features in our present invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form or embodiment thereof throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine taken as indicated by line 2 2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the machine taken as indicated by line 3--3 on Fig.

l, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 2.

The machine provided b this invention is intended. primarily to per orate pipe, or the like, for use in wells. Perforated pipe is employed in Wells, particularly oil wells, for

the purpose of admitting fluid into the wells without admitting sand, or the like. In our above identical copending application, We set forth and claim an improved form of perforation which is particularly effective,

simple and practical. This improved perforation has inwardly divergent side walls, and inwardly convergent end walls, it being preferred that the side walls be fiat and the end walls somewhat concave. 'The machine of the present invention is particularly suited for cutting or forming perforations of this type.

It is to be understood, however, that there are features of our present invention, which are not specifically limited to use in a machine for forming any particular type of perforations. i

The machine provided by this invention includes, generally, a frame 10, a carriage 11, carried by the frame, pipe rack 12 mounted on the carriage head 13 carried by the frame, 60 cutter units 14 carried bythe head, and operating means 15 for the cutter units.

The frame 10 is stationary and includes an elongated horizontally disposed base 16, and a plurality of vertically disposed standards 1T extending upwardly from one side of the base. The standards 17 are spaced apart along the base, there being a sufficient number of standards to properly support the head 13.

The carriage 11 is movable relative to the frame and is in the form of an elongate plate carried by the base of the frame so that it is movable longitudinally thereon. The carriage may be mounted on the base by means Yof suitable guides 18 extending longitudinally of the base. The carriage 1l is consider ably shorter than the base of the frame, and

can therefore be moved a considerable distance along the base without becoming displaced therefrom.

The pipe rack 12 is mounted on the carriage so that it is adjustable about a horizontal axis which extends longitudinally of the base, and is spaced a substantial distance above the carriage. The rack includes an elongate body part-l9, arranged longitudinally on the carriage, and a plurality of V-shaped pipe holders 2O carried on the body in spaced relation and in alignment longitudinally of the body. The body part 19 may be mounted on the carriage by means of arcuate guide ways 21, the axis of which extends longitudinally of the machine, and is spaceda substantial distance above the carriage and body part 19.

.The holders 20 are preferably made adjustable so that they will hold pipe in various positions with relation to the base, and will hold various sizes of pipe. In the particular form of construction illustrated in the drawings,

each holder includes two side parts 22. The

side parts 22 are movable relative to each other transversely of the body, and are adapted to be set in position on the body part 19 by means of suitable screws 23. The side parts 22 overlap so that they are freely adjustable relative to each other. The size of the holder is varied to accommodate different sizes of pipe or to support the pipe at different heights with relation to the body, by moving the side parts 22 relative to each other.

In accordance with our invention the machine is provided with means for swinging or adjusting the pipe rack about its longitudinally pivotal axis. This means may include a hand lever 24 pivotally connected at 25 to the carriage, and a connection between the body of the pipe rack and the lever. This connection may include a pivot pin 28 carried by the'body .19 to operate in a slot 29 in the lever 24. lVith this arrangement, which is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, of the drawing, movement of the lever causes swinging or movement of the pipe rack with relation to the carriage.

Adjustable stop means is provided for limiting the movement of the rack with relation to the carriage. This stop means may include a part 30 on the body of the rack, and adjustable stop screws 31 at either side of the part 30 in position to cooperate with it.

The present invention provides means for holding or retaining a pipe P in the holders, which means may include an arm 35 pivotally connected at 35a to one of the side parts of a pipe holder. The arm extends inwardly and is adapted to engage the pipe P. The arm 35 may be actuated by a cam 36. The cam 36 may be pivotally mounted on the side part in osition to cooperate with, or actuate, a tail piece or extension 37 on the arm 35. An operating lever 38 may be connected with the cam for moving it to operate the arm 35.

The head 13 extends longitudinally of the machine, and is mounted on the standards 17 by means of vertical guide ways 40 so that it is movable vertically. A suitable feed mechanism is provided for moving or feeding the head up and down. This mechanism may include vertical feed screws 41 carried by the standards 17, so that they screw thread through suitable parts of the head. The screws 41 are adapted to be operated from a shaft 42 through beveled gears 43. The operating shaft 42 is provided with a crank 42 by which it can be actuated. Operation of' the crank rotates the shaft which, through the bevel gears, rotates the screws and thus causes the head to move.

The cutter units 14, of which there may be any desired number, eachincludes a body 46, a s indle 47, carried by the body and a cutter or lade 48 carried by the spindle. The body 46 is mounted on the head so that it is adjustso that it is substantially in line vertically.

with the longitudinally pivotal axis of the,`

pipe rack.

The operating means for the cutter units may include power means, for instance in the form of an electric motor 50, and a suitable drive mechanism between the motor and the spindles of the cutter units. It is desirable to mount the motor 5() on a stationary support so therefore'we have provided a suitable supporting platform 51 on one of the standards 17 of the frame. The supporting platform is located so that the axis of the motor shaft i62 is located substantially in the mean horizontalV lane of the head 13. The drive between t e motor and the spindles may include a longitudinal shaft 60carried by the head 13, chain drive 61 between motor shaft 62 and the drive shaft 60 to the spindles of the cutter units. The chain drive 6l may linclude a pinion sprocket 66 on the motor` shaft, a driven sprocket 67 on the drive shaft 60, and any ordinary sprocket chain arranged on the sprockets. The chain is fitted more or less loosely to the sprockets so that it will allow for the necessary movement of the head with relation to the motor. tween the drive shaft 60 and s indles 47, may include bevel `gears .70 keye to the drive shaft, and beve gears 71 secured on the spin- The gear drives be- -v dles to mesh `with the gears 70. The drive y shaft 60-has a key way 72 extending throughout its length, and the gears 70 are slidably keyed to the drive shaft so that the cutter units can be readily ad'usted longitudinally of the head without isturbing the.' drive connections.

In using the machine the pipe P to be perforated is arranged in the holders 20 and the holders adjusted so that they will hold the pipe in proper alignment in the machine,

and so'that its uppermost part is at or close to the axis or pivotal movement of the pipe rack. The motor 50 may beoperated constantly so that the bla-des 48 are continuously driven. When the pipe is properly mounted in the machine, and is held in place bythe lever 35, the operator actuates lever 24 to swing the pipe rack to one end of its movement as limited by one of the stop screws 31, and then actuates the operating crank to move the head 13 downwardlyv and thereby feed the cutters into engagement with the pipe. The operatoractuates the screws to feedthe cutters into the pipe the desired distance and then withdraws the cutters from the pipe. He then operates the lever 24 to move the pipe rack 16, its other position as i again moves the head downwardly to feed the cutters into the pipe. The cutters 48y being substantially in the vertical plane of the axis of pivotal mounting to the pipe rack and the pipe being supported with its uppermost part at said axis, the cutters will, upon the above described operations, enters the pipe at exactly the same points Aand will cut the nwardly divergent slots in the pipe. When the above described operation yis completed the carriage 11 can be slid longitudinally of the base 16, to move the pipe along under the cutters to another position ready for another operation.

Having described only a typical preferred form of our invention we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific details hereinabove set forth but wish to reserve to, ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described a preferred form of our invention, we claim:

.1. A machine for perforating pipe including, a pipe carrier movable about an axis longitudinal of the pipe, said axis being located at the uppermost part of the pipe, and a cutter arranged above the carrier in substantially vertical alignment with said axis and movable vertically into and out of engagement with the pipe.

2. A machine for perforating pipe including, a carrier holding a pipe, a cutter in a plane disposed longitudinally and substantially radially of the pipe, the cutter and carrier being relatively movable in a direction substantially radial of the pipe, and a mounting for the carrier whereby it is movable about an axis substantially coincident with the intersection of the plane of the cutter and the exterior of the pipe.

3. A machine for perforating pipe including, a stationary horizontal base, a carrier mounted on the base so that it is movable horizontally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe carried by it, and about a horizontal axis located at the uppermost part of the pipe, and extending longitudinally thereof, and a cutter carried by the base above the carrier so'that it is movable in the vertical plane of said axis into engagement with the Pipeing, a stationary horizontal base, a carriage mounted on the base to be movable longitudinally thereof, a pipe carrier mounted on the carriage to be movable about an axis at the top of the pipe carried by the carrier and extending longitudinally of the pipe, the pipe carrier being adapted to support a pipe longitudinally of the base, a head connected with the base so that it is vmovable vertically, and the plurality of cutters carried by the head so that they are movable to intersect said axis and into and out of engagement with the pipe.

6. A machine for perforating pipe including, a pipe carrier oscillatable bodily about an axis longitudinal of the pipe carried by it and located approximately at the intersection o`f the cutter and the exterior of the pipe, a cutter disposed to cut a slot longitudinally of the pipe and movable through said axis into lateral engagement with the pipe to make a longitudinal opening therein and means for limiting the movement of the carrier about said axis.

7. A machine for perforating pipe including, a pipe carrier oscillatable bodily about an axis longitudinal of the pipe carried by it and located approximately at the intersection of the cutter and the exterior of the pipe, the carrier including means whereby it is adjustable to support a'pipe in various positions with relation to said axis, and a cutter disposed to out a slot longitudinally of the pipe and movable through said axis into lateral engagement with the pipe.

8. A machine for perforating pipe including, a stationary horizontal base, a carriage mounted on the base to be movable longitudinally thereof, a pipe carrier mounted on the carriage for oscillation about an axis spaced above the carriage and extending longitudinally thereof, a carrier including an adjustable V shaped rack adapted to hold a pipe with its uppermost part at said axis, means for holding pipe in the carrier, means for operating the carrier about said axis, adjustable stop `means for limiting movement of said carrier, standards extendin upwardly from oneside of the base, a hea carried'by said standard so that it is movable vertically, means for moving said head vertically, a plurality of cutter units mounted on said head so that they-are adjustable relative to each other longitudinally of the base, each cutter unit including a spindle, and a cutter carried by the spindle in the vertical plane of said axis, a drive means for the cutter units including a shaft extending longitudinally of the head, drive connections between the said shaft and spindles of the cutter units, a stationary motor mounted with its shaft in the mean horizontal planeof said first mentioned shaft, and a drive between said two shafts.

9. A machine for perforating pipe including, a cutter, a pipe carrier, means for movizo ing the cutter toward the carrier so that it operates laterally on the pipe from its eXterior to perforate it, and means whereby the carrier is operable to oscillate the pipe lat- 5 erally about an axis substantially coincident with the point of engagement of the cutter With the exterior of the ipe.

l0. A machine for per orating pipe including, a vertically disposed cutter, a pipe car- 10 rier supporting a pipe so that its longitudinal axis is in vertical alignment with the cutter, the cutter being movable vertically into lateral engagement with the pipe, the carrier being mounted to oscillate about the point 15 of intersection of the cutter and the exterior of the pipe, and means limiting the movement of the carrier about said point.

In Witness` that We claim the foregoing We have hereunto subscribed our names this 29th 20 day of December, 1924.

IRA J.' MCCULLOUGH. M. SUMTER BLACK. 

